Serum Irisin Levels in Patients with Acute Atrial Fibrillation

Objective: The purpose of this research was to investigate whether changes in serum irisin levels can represent a marker of altered energy requirements in patients with acute atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing cardioversion (CV). Methods: The research was planned as a randomized, prospective case-control study. Patients presenting to the emergency medicine and cardiology departments of a university hospital due to acute AF were included in the study. Irisin levels were measured from serum specimens collected 24 and 72 hours (h) following restoration of sinus rhythm with CV in patients in AF rhythm. The values obtained were then compared using statistical analysis. Results: Thirty-one patients undergoing CV due to acute AF were enrolled. Mean irisin levels were studied from serum specimens collected 24 and 72 h following restoration of sinus rhythm with CV, and were then compared. No statistically significant difference was determined at comparison of patients’ basal to 24 h, basal to 72 h, and 24 to 72 h mean irisin values (p0.734, p0.958, and p0.643, respectively). Negative correlation was determined between basal serum irisin levels and LDL (r= -0.519, p= 0.002), but no significant correlation was observed with epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness. Conclusion: We determined no change in serum irisin levels studied 24 h and 72 h following return of normal sinus rhythm after CV from basal serum irisin levels in patients with acute AF. No correlation also was determined between serum irisin levels and EAT thickness

Pediatric hospital healthcare workers and pertussis; a seroprevalence study

Background. This study aimed to assess pertussis seroprevalence among healthcare workers (HCWs) of a university children's hospital and to determine their opinions on whether to get the pertussis vaccine booster dose in adulthood

Successful resuscitation of prolonged cardiac arrest occurring in association with ‘skunk’ and toluene toxicity

We report a case of prolonged and successful resuscitation following cardiotoxicity-related arrest occurring after inhaling toluene and Skunk, which is an increasingly popular synthetic cannabinoid (SC). Following presentation to the emergency department because of lethargy, nausea and chest pain, a 28-year-old male user of Skunk and toluene suffered from cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation (VF). Cardiogenic shock, severe metabolic acidosis and regular wide QRS tachycardia were observed in the patient, and he developed VF every 5–10 minutes over the course of 10 hours. The patient responded to prolonged resuscitation and was discharged on 8th day of his admission in a healthy condition. This case report is the first report that cardiac arrest occurring as a result of Skunk and toluene inhalation, which was resolved without sequelae after prolonged resuscitation

Hand-grip Strengths in Right- and Left-handers with Different Degrees of Hand Preferences

WOS: 000264856900001We evaluated hand grip- strength in right- and left-handed individuals with different degrees of preferences. Six hundred and thirty-three individuals (343 men, 290 women) aged between 18 and 42 years (22.11 +/- 2.07) participated. Hand preference was determined using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. A hydraulic hand dynamometer was used to measure the grip-strengths, while sitting with the elbow in 90 degrees flexion and the Forearm in semi-pronation, lying on ail arm rest. The mean value of three trials was recorded. Statistically significant differences were observed among strongly right-handed men, weakly right-handed men, ambidextrous men, weakly left-handed men, and strongly left-handed men for right-hand grip strength. The differences between strong left- and strong right-handed men, weak right-handed and strong left-handed men, ambidextrous, and strong left-handed men were the primary reasons for the significance. No statistically significant difference was found among the different hand preference groups of men for the left hand, and no statistically significant difference was detected among different hand preference,groups of women for either hand. Our study provides insight into the relationship between handedness and hand performance based on grip strength in a Turkish population

Camptocormia in a patient with Parkinson disease and a myopathy with nemaline rods

Camptocormia, also referred to as bent spine, is a gait disorder characterized by hyperflexion of the thoracolumbar spine that develops in recumbent position while walking and that disappears in supine position. Myopathy is one of the frequent causes of camptocormia. A 77-yr-old male patient who was followed up with the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis for 2 yrs was admitted with progressive gait deterioration. Hyperflexion of trunk, disappearing in supine position, was detected and diagnosed as camptocormia. He also exhibited the signs of parkinsonism. A paraspinal muscle biopsy showed myopathy with rods in many muscle fibers. Camptocormia in this patient may be attributable to the myopathic weakness of thoracolumbar paraspinal muscles. The normal biceps brachii muscle biopsy refers to the isolated affection of paraspinal muscles in this patient. A camptocormia (bent spine) case of myopathy with nemaline rods associated with Parkinson disease is presented

The effects of scalpel, harmonic scalpel and monopolar electrocautery on the healing of colonic anastomosis after colonic resection

WOS: 000376950400004PubMed: 27274507Purpose: In our study, the effects of harmonic scalpel, scalpel, and monopolar electrocautery usage on the health and healing of colon anastomosis after resection was investigated. Methods: In this study, 120 female albino Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups each containing 40 rats. Group A, resection with scalpel; group B, resection with monopolar electrocautery; group C, resection with harmonic scalpel. The groups were divided into 4 subgroups consisting of 10 rats and analysed in the postoperative 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th days. Anastomotic bursting pressures, hydroxyproline levels and histopathological parameters were surrogate parameters for evaluating wound healing. Results: The tissue hydroxyproline levels did not show any significant difference between the groups and subgroups. The mean bursting pressure of group A on the 5th day was significantly higher than groups B and C (P < 0.001). When the fibroblast and fibrosis scores were evaluated, scores of group C on the 5th day were significantly higher than the other groups, but the results of bursting pressures and biochemical parameters did not support the fibroblast and fibrosis scores. There were not any significant differences between the groups in other histopathologic parameters. Conclusion: The use of monopolar electrocautery needs more attention since the device causes tissue destruction. The obliterating effect of harmonic scalpel on luminal organs is an important problem, especially if an anastomosis is planned. Despite the disadvantages of scalpel, its efficacy on early wound healing is better than the other devices